Capacitively coupled connector junctions having parallel signal paths and related connectors and methods

Abstract

Coaxial connector junctions include a first coaxial connector that has a first center conductor extension and a first outer conductor extension and a second coaxial connector that is mated with the first coaxial connector, the second coaxial connector including a second center conductor extension and a second outer conductor extension. A communications path between the first outer conductor extension and the second outer conductor extension includes a first capacitively coupled outer conductor communications path and a second galvanically coupled outer conductor communications path.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coaxial connector junction, comprising:
 a first coaxial connector that includes a first center conductor extension and a first outer conductor extension; and 
 a second coaxial connector that is mated with the first coaxial connector, the second coaxial connector including a second center conductor extension and a second outer conductor extension; and 
 wherein a communications path between the first outer conductor extension and the second outer conductor extension includes a first capacitively coupled outer conductor communications path and a second galvanically coupled outer conductor communications path. 
 
     
     
       2. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 1 , wherein the first capacitively coupled outer conductor communications path is configured to substantially pass signals having frequencies in a first frequency range while substantially blocking signals having frequencies in a second frequency range that encompasses frequencies that are lower than the first frequency range, and wherein the second galvanically coupled outer conductor communications path is configured to substantially pass signals having frequencies in the second frequency range while substantially blocking signals in the first frequency range. 
     
     
       3. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 1 , wherein a communications path between the first center conductor extension and the second center conductor extension includes a first capacitively coupled center conductor communications path and a second galvanically coupled center conductor communications path. 
     
     
       4. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 3 , wherein the first capacitively coupled center conductor communications path is configured to substantially pass signals having frequencies in a first frequency range while substantially blocking signals having frequencies in a second frequency range that encompasses frequencies that are lower than the first frequency range, and wherein the second galvanically coupled center conductor communications path is configured to substantially pass signals having frequencies in the second frequency range while substantially blocking signals in the first frequency range. 
     
     
       5. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 3 , wherein the first center conductor extension includes an outer shell that defines an internal cavity, and wherein the first capacitively coupled center conductor communications path extends along the outer shell and the second galvanically coupled center conductor communications path extends through the internal cavity. 
     
     
       6. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 5 , wherein the second galvanically coupled center conductor communications path includes an inductance that is at least partly within the internal cavity. 
     
     
       7. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer conductor extension includes an outer shell that defines an internal cavity, and wherein the first capacitively coupled outer conductor communications path extends along the outer shell and the second galvanically coupled outer conductor communications path extends through the internal cavity. 
     
     
       8. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 7 , wherein the second galvanically coupled outer conductor communications path includes an inductance. 
     
     
       9. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer conductor extension is spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the first center conductor extension and the second outer conductor extension is spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the second center conductor extension. 
     
     
       10. The coaxial connector junction of  claim 1 , wherein the first capacitively coupled outer conductor communications path and the second galvanically coupled outer conductor communications path comprise parallel paths that are configured to carry signals in different frequency ranges. 
     
     
       11. A coaxial connector comprising:
 a center conductor extension that has an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a center conductor contact that is electrically connected to the center conductor extension and disposed within the internal cavity; 
 an outer conductor extension that is spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the center conductor extension; and 
 a dielectric spacer interposed between the center conductor extension and the outer conductor extension that electrically isolates the center conductor extension from the outer conductor extension. 
 
     
     
       12. The coaxial connector of  claim 11 , wherein the center conductor contact is configured to mate with a center conductor contact of a mating coaxial connector. 
     
     
       13. The coaxial connector of  claim 11 , wherein the center conductor contact includes a low pass filter. 
     
     
       14. The coaxial connector of  claim 11 , further comprising a coupling nut that is configured to releasably attach the coaxial connector to a mating coaxial connector so that the center conductor extension capacitively couples with a center conductor extension of the mating coaxial connector and the outer conductor extension capacitively couples with an outer conductor extension of the mating coaxial connector, and so that the center conductor contact galvanically mates with a mating center conductor contact of the mating coaxial connector. 
     
     
       15. The coaxial connector of  claim 14 , wherein the center conductor extension of the mating coaxial connector comprises an outer shell that defines an internal cavity, and wherein the mating center conductor contact of the mating coaxial connector is electrically connected to the center conductor extension of the mating coaxial connector. 
     
     
       16. An electrical connector, comprising:
 an outer conductor extension having a cable receiving end and a connection end opposite the cable receiving end; 
 a center conductor extension having a first end that is configured to physically and electrically engage a conductor of a communications cable that is received within the cable receiving end of the outer conductor extension and a second end that comprises an outer shell that defines an internal cavity; and 
 a center conductor contact that is within the internal cavity, 
 wherein the outer conductor extension is spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the center conductor extension including the outer shell thereof. 
 
     
     
       17. The electrical connector of  claim 16 , wherein the outer shell is configured to capacitively couple with a center conductor extension of a mating electrical connector, and wherein the center conductor contact is configured to physically engage a center conductor contact of the mating coaxial connector to provide parallel communications paths between the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector. 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector of  claim 17 , wherein the center conductor contact includes a low pass filter. 
     
     
       19. The electrical connector of  claim 16 , wherein the outer shell includes an expanded capacitive coupling surface.